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This actor earned the title of Bollywood's most dangerous villain, worked in films for 50 years, people used to curse him after seeing his role, his name was…

This actor earned the title of Bollywood's most dangerous villain, worked in films for 50 years, people used to curse him after seeing his role, his name was…

India.com3 days ago
This legendary actor started his journey in black-and-white frames and he soon transformed into a symbol of onscreen fear. But behind the menacing facade was a powerhouse performer, whose transition into layered characters earned him unmatched respect. Who Was This Legendary Actor?
Here we are talking about Late Pran Krishan Sikand Ahluwalia, known as Pran, who was given the title of 'Villain of the Millennium' in Indian cinema and worked in more than 350 films in his six-decade-long career. From the 1940s to the 1990s, his villainy scared the audience, while his supporting roles won hearts. Pran used to get so immersed in acting that people would shower him with abuse and curse him after watching his acting on screen.
Pran was born on February 12, 1920, in Lahore and grew up in a prosperous Punjabi Hindu family in Ballimaran, Delhi. His father, Kewal Krishan Sikand, was a civil engineer and government contractor. Pran received his education in cities like Meerut, Dehradun, Kapurthala and Rampur. How Pran Made His Debut?
Pran, who was interested in photography, started his career as a photographer in Lahore. He entered the world of acting after playing the role of 'Sita' in Ramlila in Shimla in 1938. His first Punjabi film was 'Yamla Jat', which was released in 1940. Pran played the role of a villain in the film. But he became a hero in Hindi cinema with the film 'Khandaan' released in 1942.
Pran came to Mumbai after the partition in 1947 and made his mark in Bollywood with 'Ziddi'. Pran gave a new dimension to villainy in the 1950s and 60s. His powerful presence in his films like 'Madhumati' (1958), 'Jis Desh Mein Ganga Behti Hai' (1960), 'Ram Aur Shyam' (1967) astonished the audience. His deep voice and dialogues like 'barkhurdaar' made him famous in every household. His villainy was so impressive that people were reluctant to name their children 'Pran', while many started cursing him due to his menacing screen presence. How Pran Became The Most Expensive Actor?
Pran became one of the most expensive actors in Bollywood from 1969 to 1982. He suggested Amitabh Bachchan's name to producer Prakash Mehra for 'Zanjeer' in 1973, which played an important role in giving a new flight to Amitabh's career. Pran was a close friend of Ashok Kumar and both of them worked together in more than 20 films. More About Pran
In 1997, he received the Filmfare Lifetime Achievement Award and in 2000, Stardust's 'Villain of the Millennium' award. In 2001, he was awarded the Padma Bhushan. In 2013, he received the Dadasaheb Phalke Award, the highest honor of Indian cinema, which was presented at his home. Pran married Shukla Ahluwalia in 1945. They have three children: Arvind, Sunil, and Pinky. The legendary actor bid farewell to this world on 12 July 2013 at the age of 93 in Lilavati Hospital, Mumbai.
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Daredevil act goes wrong, veteran stuntman Mohanraj dies during Tamil film shoot
Daredevil act goes wrong, veteran stuntman Mohanraj dies during Tamil film shoot

Indian Express

time24 minutes ago

  • Indian Express

Daredevil act goes wrong, veteran stuntman Mohanraj dies during Tamil film shoot

S Mohanraj, a veteran stunt coordinator with over three decades of experience in the Tamil film industry, died Sunday morning during the filming of a high-risk car stunt for director Pa Ranjith's upcoming action film Vettuvam. He was 52. The incident occurred around 8 am during the first shot of the day at a salt pan in Vizhunthamavadi village, under Keelaiyur police station limits in Nagapattinam district. According to three crew members who worked on the film, the sequence involved a skidding SUV — an idea initiated by Mohanraj himself. 'It was the first skidding scene in the movie. The soil was loose and tricky, but he was confident,' said one of the crew members. They added that Mohanraj was to be paid an additional Rs 2 lakh for executing this particular scene, and he had taken it up due to financial necessity. Soon after the car stunt began and it went wrong, Mohanraj, who was behind the wheel, suffered sudden health complications. His colleagues rushed him to the Government Medical College Hospital at Orathur, about 10 kilometers away. Doctors declared him dead on arrival. Hailing from Poongandam village in Kanchipuram district, Mohanraj had worked in numerous Tamil films and had a reputation for executing complex car stunts. He was serving as the stunt coordinator for Vettuvam, a science fiction-action film starring Arya, Attakathi Dinesh, Dancing Rose Shabeer, and Sobhita Dhulipala. The shoot for the film, described as a complete action movie with a 'modern Robin Hood' storyline, had been underway for the past three months with about 40 days of filming left, according to sources on set. Multiple tributes poured in from the Indian film fraternity. Actor Vishal, taking to X (formerly Twitter), expressed his condolences, calling Mohanraj a 'brave person.' Prominent stunt choreographer Silva wrote, 'One of our great car-jumping stunt artists, S M Raju, died today while doing car stunts. Our stunt union and the Indian film industry will be missing him.' He posted a screengrab of the tribute on Instagram. Mohanraj was also known in the stunt community by the name S M Raju. His death triggered an outpouring of grief from veteran stuntmen across India. Sugumar, secretary of the Stunt Artists' Association, told The Indian Express that Raju had worked in over 500 movies in his 30-year-long career. 'We do not have words to explain his courage and the body of work,' he said. Veteran stunt director Sham Kaushal, known for films such as Gangs of Wasseypur and Bajirao Mastani, told PTI: 'I haven't worked with him, but stunt people are a close-knit fraternity. When you do a stunt with a car, it's a combination of human skill and machine. If there's even a slight misjudgment, it can be fatal.' Aejaz Gulab, General Secretary of the Movie Stunt Artists Association said 'car and motorcycle stunts are among the most dangerous.' 'Mohanraj was known for his ability to handle these. Sadly, accidents still happen, despite precautions,' he said. A viral video from the Vettuvam set shows the moment of panic as crew members rushed to pull Mohanraj from the SUV. According to eyewitnesses, he collapsed inside the vehicle soon after completing the skidding motion. 'There were no visible injuries but the accident was deadly… Soon, they called for a pack-up and we all returned to Chennai,' said one one the crew members. His death comes months after another stuntman, S Ezhumalai, 54, died during the filming of Sardar 2 starring Karthi. That incident, too, involved unsafe conditions — Ezhumalai was performing without protective gear at Chennai's LV Prasad Studio. Mohanraj is survived by his wife and children. The Keelaiyur police have registered a case, and a post-mortem was conducted on Sunday. His colleagues remember him as a man who led from the front — taking the first leap into danger, even after 30 years in the business. Top Malayalam star, Prithviraj Sukumaran, wrote a note expressing his grief over his demise. He wrote, 'Rest in peace Raju! So many moments of magic that would have been impossible to film without your skill and guts! You will be missed forever!'

"Exemplary Icon Of Indian Cinema": PM Modi Condoles B Saroja Devi's Death
"Exemplary Icon Of Indian Cinema": PM Modi Condoles B Saroja Devi's Death

NDTV

time34 minutes ago

  • NDTV

"Exemplary Icon Of Indian Cinema": PM Modi Condoles B Saroja Devi's Death

New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday condoled the demise of veteran actor B Saroja Devi, at the age of 87, leaving behind a legacy that spans over six decades in Indian cinema. Known for her versatility and range, she acted in over 200 films across Kannada, Tamil, Telugu, Hindi, and Sinhalese languages, earning her a special place in the hearts of audiences nationwide. In his 'X' post, PM Modi stated that she will be remembered as an "exemplary icon" of Indian cinema and culture. PM Modi mentioned that Saroja Devi's works spanned different languages and covered different themes, which also highlighted her versatile nature. "Saddened by the passing of the noted film personality, B Saroja Devi Ji. She will be remembered as an exemplary icon of Indian cinema and culture. Her diverse performances left an indelible mark across generations. Her works, spanning different languages and covering diverse themes highlighted her versatile nature. My condolences to her family and admirers. Om Shanti", PM Modi wrote on 'X'. Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah paid tribute to the late actress in his post, "The news of the passing of senior Kannada actress B Sarojadevi has caused deep sorrow. She had acted in approximately 200 films across Kannada, Tamil, Telugu, and Hindi cinema, earning fame as the goddess of acting. The moment one mentions Sarojadevi, her captivating performances in films like Kittur Chennamma, Babruvahana, and Annathangi come to mind," he wrote on X. Siddaramaiah added, "Her departure, having entertained audiences for decades through refined films, is a significant loss to Indian cinema. I pray that Sarojadevi's soul finds peace. My condolences to her grieving family and fans," he wrote on X. Born on January 7, 1938, in Bengaluru, Saroja Devi began her acting career at 17 with the Kannada film "Mahakavi Kalidasa" in 1955. She quickly rose to fame with her performances in various languages, starring alongside legendary actors like MG Ramachandran, Sivaji Ganesan, and NT Rama Rao. She made her Telugu film debut with Pandurang Mahathyam (1957) and acted in several successful films until the late 1970s. The Tamil film Nadodi Mannan (1958) established her as one of the top actresses in Tamil cinema. After her marriage in 1967, she remained the second most sought-after actress in Tamil films until 1974, while she continued to be a top actress in Telugu and Kannada cinema from 1958 to 1980. She also acted in Hindi films, starting with Paigham (1959) until the mid-1960s. She acted in 161 consecutive films as the female lead between 1955 and 1984. Saroja Devi was awarded the Padma Shri in 1969 and the Padma Bhushan by the Government of India in 1992. She also received an honorary doctorate from Bangalore University and the Kalaimamani Award of Tamil Nadu. She received the Lifetime Achievement Award in 2008. (Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

Mahesh Babu and Priyanka Chopra's SSMB29 Kenya shoot CANCELLED; SS Rajamouli sets sights on Tanzania alternatives: Reports
Mahesh Babu and Priyanka Chopra's SSMB29 Kenya shoot CANCELLED; SS Rajamouli sets sights on Tanzania alternatives: Reports

Time of India

time42 minutes ago

  • Time of India

Mahesh Babu and Priyanka Chopra's SSMB29 Kenya shoot CANCELLED; SS Rajamouli sets sights on Tanzania alternatives: Reports

In a sudden change of plans, filmmaker SS Rajamouli has seemingly called off the Kenya shooting schedule of the Mahesh Babu and Priyanka Chopra starrer SSMB29. According to the latest reports, the director has been forced to shift his shoot location, allegedly due to civil unrest in the African nation. Initially set to begin filming in mid-July in Kenya, a report on Mid-Day states that with anti-government protests and public unrest escalating in recent weeks, the team decided to prioritise crew safety and explore alternative international locations. Rajamouli is now said to be considering filming key portions of the film in South Africa and Tanzania, both of which offer terrains and landscapes that align with his vision. 'Rajamouli sir was clear that he wanted terrains that have rarely been seen on Indian screens. Tanzania's highlands and parts of South Africa ticked those boxes,' a crew member told the portal. The report further states that the production team is now in the process of securing filming permits in the alternative locations. If approvals come through as expected, the crew is likely to begin filming in South Africa by the third week of July. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Free P2,000 GCash eGift UnionBank Credit Card Apply Now Undo SSMB29 marks the first collaboration between Rajamouli and Mahesh Babu, and expectations are sky-high following the director's global success with RRR. The film reportedly follows Mahesh Babu as a globe-trotting explorer, much like the Iconic Hollywood character Indiana Jones, played by Harrison Ford .

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